Freshwater FAQs

1.    Will the overpass bridge be made into four lanes?
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A - That's a State Government controlled main road. Any decision concerning this overpass is the state government's responsibility and we have no control over this. For more information, please contact DTMR (Department of Transport and Main Roads).
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2.    Why is there a design change to Cairns Road with no left turn?
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A - Council has been consulted with extensively and has set the design parameters for the upgrade of Brays Road.  The road has been designed to conform to AUS Roads Standards. The upgrade is required to be four lanes, and it contains cycle lanes and is a signalised intersection.
 
This leaves no room to add a left-turn-only lane out of Cairns Road. An uncontrolled left only lane does not comply with the regulations in terms of safety or projected future demand.
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Calculations based upon the increased traffic flows are reflected in the design. There will be a bus stop nearby and for safety reasons an uncontrolled left land turn cannot be accommodated for.
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3.    Is the Freshwater Village building site preparatory civil works tender separate to the actual construction of the shopping centre?
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A - They will be separate; we are preparing for the tender of the build of the shopping centre presently.
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4.    Is there a plan to have a farm and brewery?
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A – Early Planning is underway for The Farm.  Other plans for Stage Three will be part of the hub, down the track.
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5.    When will Freshwater Village open to the public?
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A – Construction will commence in 2025, opening in 2026. Unfortunately, we can’t provide any further estimates at this time. While tender documents are being prepared, we have not yet tendered the building works and therefore, we do not yet have a construction program from a builder. We are expecting to issue a tender for the building works early in the New Year. We will be letting the public know any updates as they occur.
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6.    Is the drainage area behind the park become a lake?
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A – It’s a storm water detention basin. So, it will fill in times of heavy rain events, however the water won’t stay in there and will slowly release the storm water to the creek behind.
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7.    Is there a water fountain and tap at the park?
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A – There is a water fountain and tap at Freshwater Park.
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8. Why is the temporary fencing up and can you move he position?
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A – We can’t move the temporary fencing and the reason it’s up is because this is private property and it’s in the best interest of the community that it is up for safety. Within the next month this area will be a construction site with very large machinery working constantly across the site. The contractor must secure the site to prevent anyone accessing the site without permission as they need to know who is on site and where people are while the machines are working. 

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9.  Why is the clearing of trees along Brays Road necessary?

A - The clearing of trees is essential to accommodate Council’s design requirements for the upgrade to Brays Rd, being the widening to four lanes including bicycle safety improvements, the addition of a signalised intersection with Cairns Road, and to accommodate a new bus stop in the eastbound lane to access the future Freshwater Village shopping centre.

 

10,  What is being done to protect the fauna habitat?
 

• We have strict conditions from Council (within the Development Application) governing how trees are cleared.

• The clearing of trees must comply with The Nature Conservation (Koala) Conservation Plan 2017.

• As part of the residential subdivision, Wattle Run was required to pay environmental offsets in accordance with the Queensland Environmental Offsets Policy to substitute for the clearing of trees.  Further information on environmental offsets can be found here: https://www.qld.gov.au/environment/management/environmental/offsets/what-when

• As part of the residential subdivision, the developer constructed a new Local Recreation Park of a minimum area of 5,000m2 and the land transferred to Council.  The park goes some way to replace the trees needing to be cleared due to their placement.  The park is now complete and open to the community for public use.

• Wattle Run as the developer of Freshwater Village is committed to enhancing the environmental value of the land through its development, particularly through landscaping.  We envision a precinct that the community will be proud of its connection to nature.

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